Gurung happy as NIA starts probe into Darjeeling row
The beginning of preliminary probe by National Investigation Agency (NIA) into Darjeeling row, including the murder of a sub-inspector of West Bengal police, seems to have brought some relief for absconding Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president, Bimal Gurung.
As a three-member NIA team has reached the hills to start a preliminary probe, Gurung, on Sunday has issued a statement from underground welcoming the beginning of the probe by the central agency. Since beginning, Gurung had been demanding a probe by any central agency on various developments in the hills, including the killing of the sub-inspector, series of blast there over a prolonged period and arms haul by the state police.
In the press statement, the underground GJM president said that he is happy that the Union government has considered his plea and agreed for a probe by NIA. “The region involves national security concern and hence we welcome the NIA probe. We also request Union home minister Rajnath Singh to order a central probe in the killing of GJM leader Barun Bhujel, who died under mysterious circumstances in a Kolkata hospital,” said Gurung in the statement.
He also complemented the BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling,
SILIGURI:
SS Ahluwalia for his role in the entire matter.
Meanwhile, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), West Bengal, which is also running a probe into the killing of the subinspector at Darjeeling allegedly by GJM activists, denied any information of NIA officially starting a parallel probe in the hills. CID, West Bengal has slapped charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Gurung and some other top GJM leaders.
“We have not received any official intimation about any probe by any central agency in the hills so far,” said a CID official but pointing it out that it is always mandatory for NIA to inform the state government concerned before beginning a preliminary probe.
It is learnt that after completion of its preliminary probe, the three-member NIA team will submit a report to the Union ministry of home affairs, following which the ministry will take the decision on whether to go for further probe or not.